Package making and filling machine



Oct. 14, 1941; H. L.IVEVAN4S 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed 1939 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 azgl.

? ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1941. EVANS PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLINGMACHINE FiledMa rch 28, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet .2

0a. 14, 1941. H L, VANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed Ma r-ch 2a, 1939 15Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY.

Oct. '14, 1941. H, L, VANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28/1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 4ATTORNEY.

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 l3 Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 14, 1941. H. L. EVANS PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE FiledMarch 28, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 0 Na 5 M w T2 I. Jr J v z I. u m h w Ya w 1 Oct. 14, l941.- H. EVANS PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE FiledMarch 28, 1939 13'51168135-511861; 7

.1 w a f HHJ "M M|H L I II W m Wm M i m L- w 0 z 0/0 F u T n W /p/@ n m.u L 4M 8 w l a/ m, 4 G y W Oct. 14, 1941. EVANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING ANDFILLING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 13 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTOR.

ATTORN H. L. EVANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE 13Sheets-Sheet 9 I Oct. 14, 1941.

Filed March 28, 1959 OQQ INVENTQR. fizzy Oct. 14, 1941. H, EVANS2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1939 15 Sheets-Sheetl0 INVENTOR.

BY t wdfiz ATTORNEY.

Oct; 14, 1941. EVANS 2,259,302

' PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed March 28 3339 l3 Sheets-Sheet11 eu Ema-ma; ////////////////////////////////////V//////////////II////4I INVENTOR.

I M ATTORNEY.

Oct. 14, 1941.

H. L. EVANS 2,259,302

PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Fild March 28-, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet12 INVENTOR.

Oct. 14, 1941. H. L. EVANS PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE 13Sheets-$heet l3 I J y 78374 Filed March 28, 1939 ATTORNEY.

Patented 14, 1941 2,259,302 PACKAGE MAKING AND FILLING MACHINE Barry L.Evans, Newport, R. I., assignor to United States Automatic Box Machinery00., Inc., Roslindale, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationMarch 28, 1939, Serial No. 264,553

20 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic package making and fillingmachinery.

The invention has for its general object to provide a novel fullyautomatic machine adapted to form packages from sheet material, and moreparticularly from metallic foil, then fill the same with material to beenclosed therein, and then, after closing the filled packages, todischarge the same from the machine.

The invention has for a further object to provide, in a machine for thepurposes stated, an endless conveyer mechanism having a train of gripperdevices to receive and hold the sheet material from which the packagesare to be formed subject to successive forming and filling operations bycoordinated mechanisms mounted along the path of movement of theconveyer mechanism, together with means for automatically delivering thesheet material to the gripper devices of said conveyer mechanism.

The invention has for another object to pro-' vide novel mechanism forfeeding sheet material from a supply roll thereof, including means forpreformin'g the same to desired package body shape, severing thesameinto suitable package forming lengths, and then folding said lengthsinto initial package body formation and simultaneously delivering suchbody formations to the gripper devices of the conveyer mechanism sub-Ject to final forming and'filling operations.

The invention has for another object to provide, in combination with thesheet material feeding mechanism, novel means for automaticallycontrolling the feeding movement of such material when .pre-printed withspaced label imprints in a manner calculated to assure accurate registerof said imprints on the formed package body faces.

Other objects 'of the invention are to provide,-

at successive stations along the path of the conveyer mechanism, meansfor forming package closure seams, and means for sealing said seams soas to produce a substantially air and moisture proof package.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof the invention.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine according to this invention, partsof the sheet material feed driving and control mechanism and of theconveyer drive mechanism being broken away.

a slightly enlarged scale, the same showing the sheet material feeddriving and control mechanism and the conveyer drive mechanism; and Fig.2A is a fragmentary plan view of the sheet material as pre-printed withspaced label imprints and control patches.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1, butdrawn on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 4A is a fragmentary plan view of the sheet material aftersubmission to the package body shape preforming means.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the sheetmaterial preforming means, taken on line 5--5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the conveyer drivemechanism, taken on line 66 in is a further enlarged plan view of thepackage side seam scoring'blocks in normal initial position; and Figs.11 and 12 are respectively views similar to that of Fig. 10 showingsuccessive operative positions of said scoring blocks.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing package side seamfolding means in side elevation; Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary planview: of package side seam folding means in normal initial condition;and Fig. 15 is a view similar to that of Fig. 14, but showing operativeconditions of package side seam folding means.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view oi seam lap pressing blocksin normal initial con- 0 dition; and Fig. 17 is a similar view showingsaid pressing blocks in operative positions.

Figs. 18, 19, and 20 are respectively end views of the packageillustrating successive operations in the formation of double lap sideseams thereof.

Figs. 21 and 22 are enlarged vertical sectional views through seam lappressing blocks with which are cooperatively associated suction meansfor somewhat expanding the open .end or mouth of a formed package.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view showing package side seamsealing mechanism in side elevation.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary elevational view showing means for expandingthe mouths of formed Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine on 66packages prior to filling the same; and Fig. 25

is another view of the same, looking from left to right in'Fig. 24, butwith parts broken away.

Fig. 26 is a framentary sectional view showing the package fillingmechanism in side elevation; and Figs. 27 and 28 are fragmentaryvertical sectional views illustrating stages in the operationsofsaid'package filling mechanism. Fig. 29 is a fragmentary elevationalview showing means for contracting the mouth of a filled packagepreparatory to the formation of the end closure seam for closing saidpackage mouth.

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the package and seamscoring means in side elevation and in normal initial condition; andFig. 31 is an enlarged. similar fragmentary view showing the operativecondition thereof.

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary sectional view show? ing package end seamfolding means in side elevation and in normal initial position; and Fig.33 is an enlarged similar fragmentary view showing the operativecondition thereof.

Fig. 34 is 'a fragmentary elevationalview showing a first end seam lappresser means.

Fig. 35 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the means for completingand heat sealing the package end seam.

Figs. 36 to 40 inclusive are respectively side edge elevational views ofa package showing various steps in the formation of a double lap endclosure seam therefor.

Fig. 41 is a fragmentary sectional view show- .ing the package dischargeme chanism of the The conveyor mechanism and driving means thereforSupported from said bed-plate I, by standards 2, are a pair of parallellaterally spaced longitudinally extending rails 3. Aflixed to andextending between said rails 3, ma position adjacent to one end ofthemachine, is a bearing bridge 4, the vertical bearing portion of whichis centrally located between said rails and aligned over a bearing blockwhich is mounted on said bed-plate I (see Figs. 6 and 7). naled in andbetween said bearing bridge and bearing block 5 is a vertical drivenshaft 6, upon the upper end of which is aflixed a conveyor drivesprocket 1. Similarly mounted at the opposite end of the machine is avertical idler shaft 8, upon the upper end of which'is arranged aconveyer idler sprocket 9. Running over and between said sprockets 1 and9 is an endless conveyer chain I0. Said conveyer chain is arranged tomove in horizontal plane and in a clockwise direction. Carried by saidconveyer chain are a plurality of equi-spaced gripper devices adapted toreceive and hold sheet material from which packages are to be formed.Each such gripper device comprises a carriage member II which issuitably amxed to the conveyer chain 10, and which is provided at itsbottom with a slide shoe l2. Aflixed to said Jour-.

carriage member I I is an outwardly oflset bracket 13 provided with anupstanding stationary gripper jaw i4. Pivotally connected with saidoffset bracket' I3-is an upstanding movable gripper jaw I5 to cooperatewith said stationary gripper jaw l4, Said movable gripper jaw I5 isprovided with a downwardly and outwardly extending lever means l6 foractuating the same. Compression spring means l1 isarranged between saidbracket l3 and lever means Hi, and is effective to yieldably urge saidlever-means I6 to normal outwardly swung disposition operative theconveyer chain running between the" sprockets 1 and 9.

Drive mechanism is provided for actuating the conveyer mechanism with anintermittent motion adapted to cause the gripper devices carried therebyto progressively advance and periodically dwell at successive stationsalong the circuit of -the conveyer where the various package forming,fillingand closing operations are to be carried on. An illustrative formof driving transmission suitable for this purpose, as shown (see Figs.2, 6 and 7), comprises, a suitably supported transverse drive shaft l9located at the end of the machine adjacent to which the conveyer drivesprocket 1 is disposed. This drive shaft I9 is continuously driven fromany suitable source of power and through the agency of a suitable powertransmission means (not shown). Afiixed to and extending between therails 3, outwardly of the drive sprocket 1 and its shaft -6, is abearing bridge 20, the central vertical bearing portion of which isaligned over a bearing block 2! which is mounted on said bed-plate l.Journaled in and between said bearing bridge 20 and bearing block 2| isa vertical shaft 22 upon which is fixed a bevel gear 23. Fixed on saiddrive shaft I9 is a pinion 24 which meshes with and drives said bevelgear 23, and thus the shaft 22. Also affixed to and extending betweenthe rails 3, between the bearing supports of the drive sprocket shaft 6and the vertical shaft 22, is another bearing bridge 25, the centralvertical bearing portion of which is aligned over a bearing block 26which is affixed to the bed-plate l. Journaled in and between saidbearing bridge 25 and bearing block 26 is a vertical countershaft 21.Operative between the vertical shaft 22 and the countershaft 21 is a,Geneva gearing, comprising the male Geneva gear 28 which is aflixed toshaft 22, and the female Geneva gear 29 which is affixed to thecountershaft 21. Operative between the coun- .tershaft 21 and the drivesprocket shaft 6 is transmission gearing, comprising a drive gear 30' onsaid countershaft 21 which meshes with a driven gear 3i on said drivesprocket shaft 6.

Sheet material delivery means Supported above and extending transverselyacross the driven end of the conveyer mechanism is the means for feedingand initially preparing, folding and delivering the sheet material, fromwhich the packages are to be formed, to the gripper devices of saidconveyer mechanism. An illustrative form of this sheet material deliverymeans, as shown (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), comprises frameworkproviding a pair of suitably supported laterally spaced and parallelframe members 32. Journaled in and between said frame members 32,adjacent to the right hand end of the framework as shown in Figs. 2 and4, is a cross shaft 33 upon which is mounted one feed roller 34 of apair thereof, the

other feed roller 35 of said pair being mounted on a parallel crossshaft 36 which is mounted in bearings 31 vertically movable in housingmeans 38 with which the frame members 32 are provided, and so as to beurged by spring means sheet material idler guide rollers 49 and 4|.

- Aflixed to and upstanding from said framework is a standard 42 whichsupports a spindle 43 for rotatably mounting a reel 44 adapted to carrya supply roll of sheet material 45 from which the packages are to bemade. The sheet material, employed to form the specific package whichthe mechanism according to this invention is especially adapted toproduce, consists of metallic foil although it will be understood, thatin its broader aspects, the mechanism according to this invention isadapted to work upon other kinds of sheet material as well; Inhereinafter referring to the sheet material, however, it will bereferred to as foil without thereby intending any unnec essarylimitation) The foil 45 is drawn off the supply roll and led over theidler guide rollers 46 and 41, to thence pass between the feed rollers34 and 35. If desired, web tensioning means, such as the pivoted -springtensioned arms 46 and their rollers 41 may be employed in the manner andfor purposes well known in the art. The feed rollers 34-35 areintermittently driven, by suitable transmission mechanism to bsubsequently described,

whereby the foil 45 is advanced step by step, in

' provide a hollow package body of predetermined size and shape. Thispreforming means comprises a stationary frame or block 48 having in itsunder face longitudinally spaced cavities 49 of peripheral shape adaptedto define the peripheral limits and outline shape desired to be given topreformed sections or areas of the foil blank from which the package isto be made. The portions of said frame or block 48 which skirt saidcavities 49 provide clamp sections 59 to engage the top face of the foilregistered therewith. Vertically movable on suporting rods 5|, dependentfrom the ledges 52 with which the frame members 32 are provided, is acombined movable clamp, and female stretcher block 53 which .is

erai limits and'outline shape desired to be given to the preformedsections or areas of the foil blank. The portions of said clamp andstretcher block 53 which skirt its cavities 55 provide clamp sections 56to engage the bottom face of the foil registered therewith, and so as tocooperate with the clamp sections 58 of the stationary frame or block48. The timed operation of said clamp and stretcher block 53 iscontrolled by a rotatable cam 51 carried by a driven shaft 58. Saidshaft 58 is journaled in and between bearings 59 carriedby said ramemembers 32. Said clamp and stretcher block 53 is provided with dependentslotted arms 60 through which the shaft 58 extends, and between the freeends of which is mounted an anti-friction roller 6| for cooperation withsaid cam 51. Provided in connection with the stationary frame or block48, perpenmediate the peripheries thereof and the periph-- eries of saidcavities 55 of the clamp and stretcher block 53. Said plunger rods 63are afiixed by their upper ends to a cross head 65. Said cross head 65is perpendicularly slidable on upstanding supporting rods 66 carried bysaid stationary frame or block 48, andis yieldably urged downwardly bycompression springs 66' which, when free to act, serve to thrust saidmale stretchermembers 64 into operative relation to the foil desired tobe stretchingly preformed. The timed operation of said male stretchermembers 64 is controlled by rotatable cams 61 which are mounted on andactuated by the driven shaft 58. These cams 61 cooperate withanti-friction rollers 68 carried by arms 69 dependent from said crosshead 65. Intermediate th cavities of the respective blocks 48 and 53 arecooperating transverse foil scoring means comprising a male scoringmeans 10 and a female scoring means 1|,

whereby the foil blank is transversely scored' along a line intermediatethe concayo-convex preformedsections thereof and about which saidsections are to be subsequently folded into superposed relation.

While, by the operation of the cams 51 and 61 respectively, the clampand female stretcher block '53 is depressed against the tension of thesprings 54, and the male stretcher members 64 are raised against thetension of the springs 66',

yieldably urged by compression springs 54 toward said stationary frameor block 48., Said block 53 is provided in its top face with spacedcavities 55 constituting female stretcher means.

Said cavities 55 correspond in peripheral shape to the peripheral shapesof the stationary frame or block cavities 49, and thus also to theperiphthe foil 45 is advanced by the feed rollers 34- 35 to deposit ablank forming length thereof subject to the preforming action of thesedevices. In ,operation, the cam 51 first operates to release the block53 for upward movement under the thrust of the springs 54, whereby theareas of the foil marginal to the portions to be preformed ,are firstclamped by ,and between the clamp sections 56 of the block 53 and theclamp 'sections 50 of\the block 48, while at the same time the scoringmeans 19 1,I are brought together. to/ produce the transverse score 12(see Fig. rm/m the foil When the 011 is thus gripped/the cam 61 operatesto release the male 'stretgher members for downward movement under'thethrust of the springs 66'. The down wardly thrust male stretcher members64 en,

gage the underlying areas of the foil extending intermediate thecavities 49 and 55 of the blocks 48 and 53, thereby forcing the foildownwardly into the cavities 55, and thus stretching those portions ofthe foil extending across the clearance spaces, between the peripheriesof the cavities 55 and the peripheries of said male stretcher members64, whereby the desired preformed concavo-convex package body formationsare pro-.

duced, after which the male stretcher members 64 and clamp and stretcherblock 53 are returned to normal initial positions.

Supported by and between the frame members 32, beyond the foilpreforming or package body shaping means above described, is a shearmeans for severing the package forming'blanks from the run of foil fedfrom the supply roll thereof. This shear means, in one illustrativeembodiment thereof, comprises a pair of pivoted shear blades I2 and I3which are respectively operatively connected by links I4 and 15 toactuating bell-crank means I6. Said bell-crank means is fixed on arock-shaft 'I'I mounted in bearings 19 connected with'one of the framemembers 32;

and afllxed to said rock-shaft is a crank-arm I9. To eflect timedactuation of said shear means,

'as'well as other mechanisms to be subsequently described, alongitudinal lay shaft 89 is provided.

This lay shaft 89 is journaled in suitably disposed bearingmembers 9 Iupstanding from said bed-plate I, so as to dispose said lay shaft 99parallelto the outgoing course of the conveyer mechanism. Said lay shaft89 is driven from said drive shaft I9 by gearing comprising a bevel 1gear 82 on the latter shaft which meshes with 'a' bevel gear 93 on'saidlay shaft. Mounted on said lay shaft 99 is a shear timing and actuatingcam 94. Said cam 84 cooperates with the forked end plate 95 of aconnecting rod 86, the upper end of which is connected with one arm of apivoted lever 81. The opposite arm of said letending foil folding andguiding portions 99,-

adapted to project toward and in alignment with the path of movement ofthe gripper devices of the conveyer mechanism.

Supported from and in upstanding relation to the frame members 32 arevertical slideway posts 9|. Mounted on and between said slideway posts9I is a vertically reciprocable cross head 92 to which is secureda'plunger blade 93. The means for affecting timed reciprocation of saidcross head 92 and its plunger blade 93 comprises an actuating cam94which is mounted on said lay shaft 99. Said cam cooperates with theforked end plate 95 of a connecting rod 96, the upper end of which isconnected with a crank arm 91 fixed on a rocker shaft 98 which isjournaled in bearing standards 99 upstanding from said frame members 32.Fixedv on said rocker shaft 98 is a lever arm I99, the free end of whichis connected by a link I9I to said cross head 92.

In operation, a length of. preformed foil constituting a package formingblank, when advanced through the open shear mechanism,

engage actuating lever I6 of the movable intermediate scored portionaligned beneath the normally upraised plunger blade 93. By the timedoperations involved, the thus advanced length of foil is severed fromthe fed run of foil by the actuated shear mechanism, whereupon theplunger blade 93 is caused to descend, whereby the foil blank is foldedlengthwise upon itself, as it is pushed downward between the folding andguiding portions 99 by the descending plung er blade, thereby at thesame time opposing the preformed concave-convex sections of the foilblank one to, theother in package body forming relation. These foilblank folding and delivery operations are timed to occur while theconveyer mechanism is at rest so as to dispose a gripper device thereofin the path of plunger blade movement. Prior to descent of the plungerblade 93, a means for opening the awaiting gripper device is caused tofunction. This gripper device opening means comprises a pivoted grippertrip lever the upper arm I92 of which is disposed to I'll).- per jaw I5of said awaiting gripper device, while the lower arm I93 thereof isoperatively engaged by a cam I94 which is mounted on the lay shaft 89.Said cam I94 so times the operation of the gripper trip lever so astocause the same to open and hold open the movable gripper Jaw l5 untilthe folded end of the foil blank is'carried downwardly between thestationary gripper jaw I4 and the opened movable gripper jaw I5,whereupon the gripper trip lever is caused to return to normal initialposition, so that the movable'gripper jaw I5 is closed by the tension ofspring I! upon the actuating lever I6, thus en.- gaging the folded foilblank to support the same in upstanding relation to the conveyermechanism soas to be carried thereby. As soon as the folded blank isthus delivered to a gripper device of the conveyer mechanism, theplunger blade 93 is retracted to normal initial upraised' position.

Sheet material delivery drive One of the features of the instantinvention is to provide a sheet material delivery operating or drivemechanism which is adapted to automatically control the feeding movementof the material, such as the foil 45, when pre-printed with spaced labelimprints, in such manner as to assure accurate register of said imprintson the formed package body faces. An, illustrative embodiment of' sheetmaterial delivery drive mechanism adapted to .this end, as shown (seeFigs. 2 and 3), comprises the following:

A suitably supported drive shaft extension. I9 is drivenjrom said bevelgear 23 by a pinion I95 with which said shaft extension I9 is provided.A suitably supported longitudinal lay shaft I96 is disposed parallel tothe return course of the conveyer mechanism, and is driven from saiddrive shaft extension I9 by gearing 'comprising a bevel gear I91 on thelatter shaft which meshes with a bevel gear I98 on said lay shaft I96.The supporting pedestal I99, which is mounted on said bed plate I, andby which the frame members 32 of thesheet delivery mechanism is in partsupported, includes a bearing portion II9 for said lay shaft I96, andoutwardly of said supporting pedestal I99 is a bearing frame I I I,which likewise includes a bearing portion III for said lay shaft I96.Journaled in drives a gear II9 on the former.

and between said supporting pedestal I09 and said bearing frame I I I,above said lay shaft I06, is a countershaft II2. This countershaft H2 isdriven from the lay shaft I 06 by a gear I I3 on the latter which mesheswith and drives a gear I I 4 on the former. Said bearing frame IIIincludes, in connection with its upper end portion, a bearing bracketmember I I5 having a bearing portion I I6, outwardly offset relative tothe upper end portion of said bearing frame II I. Journaled in andbetween said offset bearing portion H6 and said bearing frame III is aGeneva drive shaft III, which is driven from said countershaft II2 by agear IIB on the latter which meshes with and Also journaled in andbetween said offset bearing portion I I6 and said bearing frame III is aGeneva driv-. en shaft I 20, which is disposed above said Geneva driveshaft 1. Fixed on said Geneva drive shaft II! is a male Geneva gear I 2Iwhich cooperates with a female Geneva gear I22 fixed on said Genevadriven shaft I20.

. reciprocable bar I34 is an electric solenoid I38 having an armatureiI39. Rotatably journaled in bearing bracket supports I40 is the shaftI4I of a drive worm I42, and fixed on said shaft MI is a ratchet wheelI43. Pivotally mounted on 3 said shaft I4I, as a fulcrum, is anoscillatable lever I44 carrying a pawl I45 adapted to engage Supportedby said bearing frame I I I is a planetary gear set having a drum orcasing I23 provlded with an internal or ring gear I24. Fixed on anddriven by the inner end of said Geneva driven shaft I20 is a planet gearframe I 25 which carries a series of rotatable planet gears I26 adaptedto mesh with said internal or ring gear I24 of the drum or casing I23.Journaled in the supporting pedestal I09, so as to be disposed in axialalignment with said Geneva driven shaft I20, is the foil feed rollerdrive shaft I21, upon which is fixed a drive gear I28 arranged to meshwith said planet gea'rs I26. The crossshaft 33 of the lower feed roller34 is driven from said drive shaft I2I by a gear I29 affixed to thelatter, and which meshes with a gear I30 afiixed to the former.Preferably the cross shaft 36 of the upper feed roller is driven fromthe cross shaft 33 of the lower feed roller 34 by a gear I3I affixed tothe latter, and which meshes with a gear I32 aflixed to the former. v

When the foil, from which the package forming blanks are produced, ispre-printed with spaced label or other'imprints, as e. g. shown in Fig.2A, and which are required to be precisely positioned on one or morefaces of the completed package, it is necessary to so control theoperation of the feed rollers 34--35 that the lengths of foil advancedto provide the package blanks will each contain the imprints so disposedthereon as to be certain of occupying the desired lo cation on the faceor faces of the completed packages. To attain such control, the major orapproximate foil advancing movement of the feed rollers 34-35 is bothtimed by the Geneva gearing I2I--I22, whereby a length of foil slightlyless than required to furnish a package blank is fed to the preformingor package body shaping means, whereupon a special auxiliary feed rollerdrive means becomes and controlled effective to complete the advance ofthe foil to said ratchet wheel I 43. Afllxed to said drum or casing I23of said planetary gear set is a worm gear I46 which meshes with and isdriven by said worm I42. Interconnecting said lever I44 and the armatureI39 of said solenoid is a link I4'I.

Supported by a suitable bracket frame I48 carried by the frame members32 is an electric eye device I49 and also carried by said bracket frameis a light source I50 cooperative with said electric eye device (seeFig. 2). Said electric eye device I49 is directed toward the foil 45where the same passes over and around the idler guide roller M. Thelight from said light source I50 is likewise directed toward the foil 45in such angular relation thereto as to, be reflected therefrom to saidelectric eye device I49, and so as to strike those areas of the foil 45which bear and are aligned with the detector spots or patches I33 borneby said foil. Through proper electrical connections and relays (notshown) said electric eye device I49 is electrically related to thewindings of said solenoid I38 so as to control the energizing anddeenergizing thereof.

In the operation of the foil delivery drive mechanism, the Genevagearing I 2I--I22 transmits to the shaft I20 a properly timed rotativemovement which revolves the planet gear frame I25 and planet gears I26carried thereby relative to the drum or casing I23 and ring gear I24 ofthe planetary gear set. Since, during the period of power transmissionby said Geneva gearing I2I I22, the drum or casing I23 and ring gear I24are held stationary by the then inactive worm and worm gear I 42 andI46, the revolution of the planet gears I26 around the stationary ringgear I24 produces a rotation of the former about their axes. The rotarymovement of the planet gears I26 is transmitted to the drive gear I28,whereby a major feeding movement is in turn transmitted to the foil feedrollers 34-35. This major feeding movement of the feed rollers operatesto draw a length of foil off of the supply roll approximating thatrequired to supply a package forming blank, while at the same timeadvancing preceding package forming blank lengths respectively towardthe preforming or body shaping mechanism, the shear mechanism, and thefolding and delivery plunger blade means respectively. As the foilpassing from the supply moves over the idler guide roller 4|, ittraverses the beam of light projected thereon from the light serviceI50, whereby the light beam is reflected from the foil surface to theelectric eye device I49, thereby activating the latter to produce anoutput of electrical energy,

- which through proper agencies (not shown), supplies current tomaintain the solenoid I38 energized so long as the electric eye devicecontinues to be activated. Since the power transmitting cycle of theGeneva gearing I2I--I22 is so determined as to produce operativemovement of the feed rollers 3435 which is somewhat short of thatrequired to feed the full length of foil required to provide a packageforming blank, when said Geneva gearing comes to rest, the auxiliarydrive cam 31, by its operation, is timed to produce outswinging movementof the rocker arms I35 and I36, with 'consequent outward movement of thereciprocable bar I34 and solenoid I38 carried by the latter. Since,atthe time outward movement thereof is initiated, the solenoid I38 isenergized, its armature I39 is strongly held retracted, and consequentlythe solenoid functions in the character of an electric clutch, wherebythe link I41 is operatively coupled to the reciprocable bar I34 so as toparticipate inits outward movement. The outward movement of the link I41swings outward the lever I 44, the movement thereof being transmittedthrough the pawl I49 and ratchet wheel I43 to the drive worm I42, andthrough the latter to the worm gear I46, thus imparting rotary movementto the drum or casing I23 and ring gear I24 of the planetary gear set.Since the Geneva driven shaft I20 and planet gear frame I25 afllxedthereto have previously come to rest and remain immovable, the rotationof the ring gear I24 produces rotary movement of the planet gears I26about their axes, which in turn is transmitted to the drive gear I28, totransmit therethrough s a continued-foilfeeding movement of the feedrollers 34-35.

Under the operation of the described auxiliary drive means, the feedingmovement of the foil energizing current to the solenoid I38. Immediatelythe solenoid I38 is de-energized, the armature I39 thereof is releasedfrom magnetic attraction, and consequently the electric clutching orcoupling effect between the reciprocable bar I34 and link I4! is broken,so that further outward movement of the former is no longer transmittedto the latter, and therefore motion of the planetary gear set ceases andfeeding movement of the feed rollers 3435 is completed and stopped.During the period of dwell following a foil feeding operation, the camI39 operates to return the auxiliary drive devices to normal initialpositions, ready for a repetition of its above described functionsduringsucceeding foil feeding operation as tinged and initiated by the Genevagearing I2II' 2.

Owing to the fact that the detector spots or patches I33 are imprintedon the foil in exact spaced relation whereby the intervals areequivalent to the exact length of foil required to form a package blank,and since said spots or patches I33 also bear an exact predeterminedrelation to the label imprints with which the foil is provided, it willbe obvious that not only-will each feeding operation of thefeed rollers34-35 advance proper lengths of foil, but also the label imprints willalways occupy corresponding and proper predetermined positions withrespect to the boundaries of each package forming length of foil.

cam shaft 58 of the packagebody preforming or shaping mechanism isdriven by a sprocket and chain transmission I 5|, the drive sprocket I52of which is fixed on and actuated by said counter shaft I I2. 3

It will be understood that in embodiments of the instant inventionwhereby the=packages are tobe made from plain, i. e. unprinted foil, orother sheet material, the above-described auxiliary feed drive mechanismmay be omitted, and the feed rollers 34-35 driven and timed solely bythe Geneva gearing transmission means.

It will be understood that in, embodiments of the instant inventionwhereby flat envelope like packages are desired to be produced, 1. e.packages without preformed side walls, then the above-described packagebody preforming or Ranged along the course of the conveyer mechanismoutgoing from the location of the foil feeding anddelivering mechanismare the means for forming the side closure seams of the producedpackages. Such side seam forming means comprises various mechanismslocated at successively spaced stations relative to which the upstandingfolded package. blanks, as carried by the gripper devices of theconveyer mechanism, are caused to dwell by the intermittent progress ofsaid conveyer mechanism.

After an upstanding folded package blank is deposited in and engaged bya gripper device of the conveyer mechanism, an advancing movement ofsaid conveyer mechanism first carries the same to and brings it to restat a station and in position to be operated upon by a side seam scoringmechanism (see Figs. 1 and 8 to 12 inelusive).

The side seam scoring mechanism comprises a carrier block I53 having atthe front thereof a perpendicular outwardly open recess bounded by sidewings I54. Said carrier block I 53 is provided with a pair of slide barsI55 which extend rearwardly from the back thereof. Said slide bars aremounted for reciprocation in a supporting standard I56 which rises froma bridging bracket I5'I affixed between the rails 3. Extending throughsaid .carrier block and into the slide bars I55 thereof are slidewaybores I58, to slidably receive the supporting studs I59 of a femalescoring block I60, so as to dispose the latter within said recess of thecarrier block I53. Compression springs I6I are mounted within saidslideway bores I58 behind the supporting studs I59, so as to yieldablythrust said female scoring block I60 to an outwardly projected position,as determined by stop means I62, in which position the operative frontface of said female scoring block is normally projected slightly beyondthe front ends of the recess bounding side wings I54 of said carrierblock. At its front face, said I female scoring block I60 is provided,adiacent to each side thereof, with sets of perpendicular, laterallyspaced, scoring grooves I53. Intermediate rier block I53, and the femalescoring block I60 yieldably supported thereby, comprises a-suit-Attention is here caued to the factxhat the ably fulcrumed levermeans,the upper arm I of which is operatively coupled with the carrier blockslide bars I55, while the lower arm I66 of which is connected by aconnecting rod IS'I of an actuating eccentric I'68 driven by the layshaft Arranged to cooperate with said female scoring block I60 is a malescoring block I69 having a tail-piece I extending outwardly from theback thereof. Said tail-piece I10 is mounted for reciprocation in asupporting'standard I'll which rises froma bracket I12 aflixed to one ofthe rails 3. At its front face, said male scoring block I69 is provided,adjacent to each side thereof,

with sets of perpendicular, laterally spaced, scoring tongues I13.Intermediate said sets of scoring tongues is an open recess I14 toprovide clearance for a shaped body wall of the preformed package blankoperated upon. The means for operatively reciprocating the male scoringblock I69 comprises a suitably fulcrumed lever means, one arm I-15 ofwhich is operatively coupled with the tail-piece I10, while the otherarm I16 of which cooperates with an actuating cam I11 driven by the layshaft 80.

Normally, the male and female scoring block devices are respectivelyretracted to an initial separated relation as shown in Fig. 10, andwhile they are 50 disposed, an operative movement of the conveyermechanism moves forward and brings to rest a gripper device carrying anupstanding folded package blank, so as to position the latteroperatively between the retracted scoring block devices. During theperiod of dwell of the conveyer mechanism, the actuating eccentric I68,by its timing operation, moves forward the carrier block I5 and femalescoring block I60 carried thereby, while the actuatin cam I11, by itstiming operation, likewise moves forward the male scoring block I69,with the result that said male and female scoring blocks are movedtogether so as to engage by and between the rective scorin tongues I13of the one and the spe g 40 the rock shafts I99 are lever arms 202, thesame cooperating scoring grooves I63 of the othenthe superposed sidemarginal portions of the'interposed upstanding folded package blank,thereby impressing in such marginal portions suitably formed and spacedscores which are calculated to fin line about which subsequentlyeffected 5 de e s 4 shaft 205 upon which is mounted a cam roll 206.

closure seam folds areto be turned (see Fig. 11). As the male scoringblock I69 engages the female scoring block I60, the latterwill-vyieldingly retreat, against the tension of the springs I6I,

into the recess of the carrier block I53, with the effect of advancingthe sidewings I54 relative to the meeting faces of the male and femalescoring blocks. Such relative advance of said side wings I54 causes thesame to engage freely projecting sections of theside marginal portionsof the folded package blank, which extend beyond the outermost scorelines, so as to turn the same angularly outward approximately ni e- -tydegrees, thus effecting an initial sta e 0 a first side seam lap foldingoperation (see Fig. 12). 30

Upon completion of the scoring and initial stage folding operationsabove described, the scoring block devices are retracted by theiractuating and timing means, whereupon the conveyer mechanism is timed toagain advance to thereby carry the scored package blank onward and bringinto position a succeeding package blank to be scored by a repetition ofthe above described operations.

The advance movement or movements of the conveyer mechanism carries thescored package blank to andbrings it to rest at a station and inposition to be operated upon by a first side seam lap folding mechanism(see Figs. 1 and 13 to 15 inclusive).

The side seam lap folding mechanism coinprises a stationary outer headframe 418 supported by a standard bracket I19 from a bracket shelf I80aflixe'd to one of the rails 3. This head tically opposed bearingmembers I8I in which are journaled vertical rock shafts I82. Aflixed toeach rock shaft I82 is a carrier member I88, upon the free end'of whichis aflixed an anvil plate I84 having, along its perpendicular freemargin, a beveled anvil element I85. Afllxed to the upper ends of saidrock shafts I82 are lever arms I86. Afllxed to and rising from saidbracket shelf I80 are forked standards I81 by which are supportedslideway bars I 88 disposed transverse to the conveyer mechanism.Mounted for reciprocation pn said slideway bars I88 is a carriage I89which is provided with an upstanding tail-block I 90. Interconnectedbetween said tailblock I90 and the respective lever arms I86 are 0 linksI9I. The means for effecting properly timed reciprocation of saidcarriage I89 comprises ,an actuating cam I92 driven by said lay shaft80. This cam I92 cooperates with an actuating lever I93 which issuitably fulcrumed at its lower end in connection with the bed-plate I,and the upper end ofwhich is operatively coupled by a link I94 to saidcarriage I89.

Supported by a standard bracket I95, rising from a bridging bracketstructure I96 afiixed between the rails 3, is an inner head frame I91.This inner head frame I91 is provided with vertically opposed bearingmembers I98 in which are journaled vertical rock shafts I 99. Aflixed oneach rock shaft I99 is a carrier member 200, upon the free end of whichis amxed a folder blade -20I. Said carrier members 200 are suitablyshaped so that their intermediate portions cross one. another. Securedto the upper ends of having upstanding anti-friction rollers 203 mountedat their free end portions. Also supported from said bridging bracketstructure I96 are upstanding bearing posts 204, and journaled in andbetween said posts is an overhead cam Said cam roll is provided inconnection with its opposite lateral peripheries with indented camsections 201, which are respectively cooperative with the rollers 203 ofsaid lever arms 202. An interconnecting pull spring 208, which extendsbetween the Ieverarms 202, yieldabiy retains the rollers 203 of saidlever arms in operative engagement with the cam roll 206. Said cam shaft205 is driven from the lay shaft 80 by a sprocket and chain transmission209. Aflixed to and rising from the bridging bracket structure I96 areforked standards 2I0 by which are supported slideway bars 2 disposedtransverse to the conveyer mechanism. Mounted for reciprdcation on saidslideway bars 2| I is a carriage 2I2. Supported by said carriage 2I2 isa forwardly projecting carriage arm 2I3 having a bifurcated outer endportion adapted to straddle the crossed intermediate portions of saidcarrier members commodate inner scores of a package blank, and

an intermediate clearance recess 2I6 to accommodate a shaped body wallof the preformed package blank operated upon. The means for effectingproperly timed reciprocation of the carriage 2I2 and backer block 2I4carried thereby frame I18 is provided with spaced sets of ver-

